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Tue, 22 May 2018 17:11:45 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/https://s0.wp.com/i/buttonw-com.pngKRISTENSTAGRAM.https://kristenstagram.com
Music Moment: Superbodyhttps://kristenstagram.com/2018/05/22/music-moment-superbody/
https://kristenstagram.com/2018/05/22/music-moment-superbody/#respondTue, 22 May 2018 17:08:40 +0000http://kristenstagram.com/?p=1388A mullet comparable to that of John Stamos. A crew neck paired over a collared shirt. A single cross earring dangling from his left ear. This is Robert McCurry, frontman of Superbody. He walks through the door of our local coffee shop, looking like he stepped right out of a DeLorean before walking in.

Funky synth beats and electronic voices blare into my headphones as I sip coffee, waiting for him to walk in. I’ve been listening to his album on repeat for the past 24 hours. Expecting to see the 23-year old clad in typical college kid attire, I blink multiple times in disbelief as he walks through the door.

Small Town, Big Dreams

Superbody is the creation of Robert McCurry and Caleb Dills, two kids who made their music debut in the rolling hills of Chattanooga, Tenn. As an eclectic mix of Tears for Fears meets Joy Division, Superbody epitomizes the revival of the ‘80s maximalist. McCurry describes his upbringing as typical, suburban, and middle-class. “But I started, of course, playing in different punk and rock bands when I was in middle school, like everybody else.” Bass guitar is his instrument of choice, noting that a lot of his favorite music “actually has bass lines on it as opposed to synth bass lines.”

The duo released their first album, Hades Land, in 2015 and featured a lo-fi vibe. “We didn’t even know what we were at that point. We had no idea how to mix, so we ran a bunch of stuff through tape machines. We were scared of people calling us out for doing everything with software because we didn’t know how to work the software that well.” This explains much of the experimental sound incorporated into their first album.

“I’m not scared of that anymore,” says McCurry, “like, that’s so pretentious that I would think that anyone would do that. But at the time, we were so scared of people calling us out because we never produced something.”

The days of hesitant music production were long gone after Hades Land was released. Technology and software quickly became integrated into their newest album, Youth Music. Once this album dropped, a few national magazines, such as the Office Magazine and The 405, picked up on Superbody. They went on tour up the East Coast and into Canada.

From the looks of McCurry, you would never guess he was a pop artist in the 21st century. In fact, you might assume the exact opposite; he resembles someone from an 80s movie. When it comes to his appearance, McCurry shares a funny story about how the mullet came to be. “We started recording, and I started singing with that weird, deep voice, and I was like, ‘No one’s gonna even believe that this is me.’ I looked more freaky with the fact that I just looked normal. So for the first record, I grew the mustache and bleached my hair. We started writing the second record, and I was like, ‘I have to grow a mullet for this.’”

McCurry’s whole persona is an antithesis of the DIY punk artist. The entire “I-look-lazier-than-you” personage is the exact opposite of what he wants to portray. “I just wanted to be expressive in whatever way I can because the music is extremely expressive and bright.”

From Indie to Pop

After being in countless punk and indie bands, McCurry has developed a very distinct pop music philosophy. “Caleb and I just set out with this: we wanted to make the most creative, accessible pop music that we can stand by. That anyone can listen to and anyone can have an opinion on as well.” After seeing how indie music can play it a bit too safe, McCurry ran to the opposite extreme with his music.

His drive for distinctiveness led him to create Youth Music. The opening track, Real Luv, is a conglomeration of techno vibes and robotic ‘80s voices. The entire album flows in this manner: extremely pop dance and extremely ‘80s. “It was very intentional for the rhetoric and everything to be, like, oh-so-80s because that’s what we were obsessed with. Maximalist early ‘80s music. Everything about that. That’s the explosion of creativity to me.”

Though Dills recently left the band to pursue other endeavors, McCurry is still prepared to take on the pop scene with fresh ideas and content. McCurry labels himself a poptimist– someone who spread positivity through pop music. “As soon as I started trying to actually write pop songs, I was like, ‘This is the highest form of art. Period.’”

With the release of Youth Music, the return of ‘80s pop has never been more apparent. McCurry drew much of his inspiration from the ‘80s hit band Wham! “They just found a way to affect youth culture with pure positivity,” McCurry says. “The fact that there were high school kids walking around with ‘Choose Life’ shirts and ultimate positivity in their lives when most of the youths, especially boys, seek out darker things almost always.”

Modern Love: Synth Pop in a Digital Age

The fact that ‘80s pop is making a comeback is actually very significant. Music production has completely changed in the past 30 to 40 years. From analog to digital, some artists are still adapting to the process. Many prominent “indie” artists– BØRNS, Bleachers, LANY, and The 1975, to name a few– are re-inventing this ‘80s sound in the modern music world. “We [Robert and Caleb] were so obsessed specifically with one hit wonders. All of that early ‘80s pop and dance music still stands up today, and they didn’t have computers. They were doing all of that shit on a tape reel. They didn’t have any of the software that we have right now.”

Another aspect that makes ‘80s music stand the test of time was the pure quality with which it was produced. With the rise of MTV, it was almost impossible to get on the charts without a music video. Ironically enough, even with the rise of social media, music videos are on the decline. Many #1 singles on the radio don’t even have a video to accompany them. “[With] things like Instagram stories and Snapchat, I try to stay away from it as much as possible. Actually, with the small fan-base I do have, surprise people. I like that.”

McCurry admits that the shift in music is continuously changing. “In this day and age, people can arrange and compose without barely even knowing how to play music. When you’re sending stuff off or recording, you just leave someone to work on it for weeks and then you get it back. There’s no excuse for that anymore. You need very minimal money, minimal experience to produce music on your own. Now you can make anything sound like anything with just the software.” McCurry is somewhat of a paradox: he loves the vintage sound and the modern technology.

]]>https://kristenstagram.com/2018/05/22/music-moment-superbody/feed/0IMG_2227kristenstagramReflections of a Coffee Addicthttps://kristenstagram.com/2018/05/10/reflections-of-a-coffee-addict/
https://kristenstagram.com/2018/05/10/reflections-of-a-coffee-addict/#respondThu, 10 May 2018 16:43:32 +0000http://kristenstagram.com/?p=1376It’s 8:46 a.m. as I sit down for breakfast and take a sip of my coffee. I cringe. It’s my first day back home, and I already feel like a snob. American coffee is terrible.

When I moved to France for a year, I expected culture shock and other unusual societal norms. What I didn’t expect was to be shaped by something as small– literally and figuratively– as their coffee. I’ve been a coffee enthusiast for quite some time now, and I thought going to Europe would simply help me appreciate the art of coffee even more. Little did I know, it would reveal much to me about society as a whole.

The culture surrounding coffee in France is much different from here in the United States. Much of American coffee culture consists of waiting in line for 20 minutes only to run out the door with our venti mocha frappuccino or vanilla non-fat soy latte or whatever other various sugary concoction it may be. When we do have time to sit down for coffee, it’s usually only for a 30 minute job interview or an easy first date with a potential partner. Unless, of course, you are invested in the hipster side of coffee. That subculture, if you will, contains multiple forms of coffee-making that often seem a bit redundant (I mean… do we really need a drip coffee, pour-over, and cold brew of the day?).

France is a completely different scene. You are strolling dans la rue when you stumble upon a tiny corner café. Little striped chairs and small circle tables are staggered along the awning, piquing your curiosity. A waiter comes outside to offer you a menu. You sit down. Upon ordering un café, a tiny espresso with an equally tiny spoon appears in front of you. You proceed to sip it for the next hour or two while divulging into political or philosophical conversation–and maybe snacking on a croissant– with your fellow French citizens.

Though this may be a bit exaggerated, the point remains. For the French, it’s extremely important to set aside this time. Coffee isn’t just a drink to keep you awake throughout the monotony of your day. It’s a form of true connection; it allows you to have time for the important people in your life. The practice of afternoon coffee is essential for maintaining the sanity one has in the midst of a busy schedule. Unlike the American guzzling their 32 oz. coffee while running late to work, the small and bitter espressos of the French clean the palate and energize the person for the remainder of the day.

Now that I’m back home, I realize that American coffee culture is definitely improving. (But we could definitely still learn a thing or two from the French.)

P.S. For your entertainment here are some photos of me consuming way too many espressos in France.

Click to view slideshow.
]]>https://kristenstagram.com/2018/05/10/reflections-of-a-coffee-addict/feed/0Processed with VSCO with b5 presetkristenstagramUSA brand brings European style to the West Coasthttps://kristenstagram.com/2018/04/30/usa-brand-brings-european-style-to-the-west-coast/
https://kristenstagram.com/2018/04/30/usa-brand-brings-european-style-to-the-west-coast/#respondMon, 30 Apr 2018 11:30:30 +0000http://kristenstagram.com/?p=1367If you look at her Instagram, you might think she’s a travel blogger. But she’s actually at every fashion week to get inspiration for her newest collections. From Portugal to Paris, fashion designer Brittany Correy is always on-the-go.

Correy is the name and face behind the lady & the sailor, a simple clothing collection based on a solid fashion philosophy. “Good basics are the foundation to creating beautifully uncomplicated style.” With three boutiques in L.A., her brand is bringing European fashion to the U.S. one classic piece at a time.

How did you become interested in fashion?

“I wouldn’t say there was one pivotal moment. I come from creative roots; that was my upbringing, art. It was just the natural progression. Fashion is just a daily form of art to me. It’s unique to the person. Each day you choose colors and textures. It’s like everyday you wake up and say, “Who am I today?” Such a fun form of expression.”

How did you start the lady & the sailor?

“With a set of ideas and long hours! I built the idea for the collection initially on my need for certain things. I would get dressed and feel like I was missing certain “building pieces.” For example, a tee refined enough to wear to a nice dinner. Or a tank long enough to layer under a specific sweater. The brand was built on the five pieces I always thought I was missing to complete an outfit.”

How would you describe your brand?

“Feminine with a nod to boy.”

What’s your favorite accessory?

“Hands down my favorite vintage Levis! I wear them endlessly, and they seem to fit the bill for almost any occasion in LA. Daytime with a sweatshirt or striped tee. Nighttime with a perfect leather jacket, black tee and heels.”

What’s a typical day like for you?

“I usually start my day at the office and check in with the 3 boutiques. Once they are all situated, I move on to design and production. There’s daily design, playing with color palettes and fabrics. And then fittings several times a week. Fashion moves fast; there’s never down time.”

What are some of your favorite hobbies?

“All my favorite hobbies are not fashion related. This business is so consuming for me, when I get free time, truly the last thing I want to do is fashion related. Sometimes I need to rest my mind so I can be inspired when it counts. I love travel, yoga and it sounds crazy, but organizing! There’s nothing more enjoyable for me than a quiet evening at home organizing my closet or bathroom drawers.”

What inspires you?

“Travel, always. I can’t get enough. I love to see what people are wearing, men and women both. There’s also so much inspiration found in cityscapes, food, everything. I was in St. Tropez this summer and came across this incredible street of pink buildings: each had a different color trim. I wrote down every color combo there was!”

What’s it like constantly traveling? Are there things from home you miss while you are gone?

“First and foremost, my French bulldog, Clyde. After a day, I miss him so much it hurts! Then, of course, my husband and my family. Then it’s the little things, like my favorite coffee and my bed. Also just the luxury of having down time between travels. There’s nothing better than being home on a Saturday afternoon with literally nothing to do. No deadlines, no pressure. It’s the best feeling in the world.”

What tops your bucket list?

“I wouldn’t say it’s a single destination or experience. Rather, I would love to get to a place in the future where I could spend a full summer abroad. Relocate for May or June until August. I’d pick a place that I find the most inspiring at the time. I’d spend the summer absorbing the culture and then of course designing and sourcing. The summer would culminate with shooting our spring campaign, which we shoot every August. It’s our biggest and most important lookbook of the year. The campaign would likely be inspired by my summer.”

What do you hope to accomplish in the next year?

“I’ve always envisioned the lady & the sailor as a lifestyle brand, comprised of more than just clothing. We’re currently working on branching into accessories, bags, shoes and things of that nature. During my travels, I’ve seen so many beautiful things made by international artisans! There’s so many of these things I’d like to infuse into this realm of the brand.”

I’ve been stuck in bed with the flu all day. My lungs feel as though they are about to give out from all the coughing I’ve been doing. My fever won’t go away, and I’m miserable.

In the midst of my sickness, I could only seem to groan and complain that my Easter plans were ruined by my untimely sickness. All the while my heart was bitter only because I wanted to celebrate Easter my way.

Tonight I finally sat down to read the accounts of Jesus’ death one by one. Starting in Matthew and going to John, I read from the garden to the cross. Each time I read these, I see myself in Peter as he denies Jesus. I see myself in Pilate, “wanting to satisfy the crowd.” (Mark 15:15) I see myself in the angry mob mocking him and spitting on him, reveling in my sin.

And yet I continually missed one key point: the Easter story isn’t about me. It never has been. It’s not about any of us. It’s about Jesus and his sacrifice. The whole point of Easter is Jesus Christ.

The cross is not beautiful. The cross is not romantic. It was an attempt to destroy the Savior of the world. But alas, even death couldn’t defeat our sweet Jesus. As Holy Saturday comes to a close, my heart is overwhelmed with gratitude knowing that Sunday is coming, knowing that He is risen, and knowing that he reigns eternally at the right hand of God.

]]>https://kristenstagram.com/2018/03/31/holy-saturday/feed/01e034a45abcbb17a52a111ab28845cf1kristenstagramOn Self-Love.https://kristenstagram.com/2018/02/20/on-self-love/
https://kristenstagram.com/2018/02/20/on-self-love/#commentsWed, 21 Feb 2018 01:07:46 +0000http://kristenstagram.com/?p=1346On February 11, the Sunday before Valentine’s Day, I gathered together to celebrate with a bunch of wonderful women. Celebrate each other. Celebrate ourselves. And you know what I noticed as we went around the room sharing a glimpse into our hearts? Every single person liked something about themselves that is completely and utterly intangible.

Physicality can only lift you up so high before its efforts become futile. Find intangible qualities in yourself and spend your life passionately cultivating them. That is true self-love.

Far too often in our millennial minds, we confuse self-love with self-appeasement. We live to indulge our fleeting pleasures in the name of “self-care.” Loving yourself is more than doing face masks or buying yourself new clothes or makeup or trinkets every other day.

True self-love demands self-respect. It requires a deeply rooted sense of self– an awareness. You cannot begin to love yourself until you take yourself seriously.

I’ve recently explored the idea of self-respect. What is it? How do we get it? Is it inherent or learned? One of the most impressive essays I’ve found about the topic was Joan Didion’s 1961 essay published in Vogue. Check out these excerpts.

“In brief, people with self-respect exhibit a certain toughness, a kind of moral nerve; they display what was once called character, a quality which, although approved in the abstract, sometimes loses ground to other, more instantly negotiable virtues.”

“Nonetheless, character—the willingness to accept responsibility for one’s own life—is the source from which self-respect springs.”

I suppose this is just an attempt at an eloquent reminder to stretch beyond the cultural standard of surface level self-care. Dare to pull back the shimmering veil from your picturesque life and see who you are– who you really are.

]]>https://kristenstagram.com/2018/02/20/on-self-love/feed/2IMG_5136kristenstagramNo, Your News Shouldn’t Be Free.https://kristenstagram.com/2018/02/07/no-your-news-shouldnt-be-free/
https://kristenstagram.com/2018/02/07/no-your-news-shouldnt-be-free/#commentsThu, 08 Feb 2018 01:25:17 +0000http://kristenstagram.com/?p=551I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people complain about their limits with online news. (Don’t worry, I’ve done my fair share of complaining.) But have you considered why you have to pay?

You pay a photographer for prints. You pay a doctor for a diagnosis. You pay an accountant to do your taxes.

You pay a newspaper for their stories. Those journalists work hard to get the interviews they need, compile the stories, edit the articles, and send it to the printer so that you can be informed.

You don’t deserve to get your news for free.

“The truth is a big part of the blame for this industry’s dire straits is on us and our unwillingness to pay for the work journalists produce.” John Oliver couldn’t have stated it better.

Our job is to inform the public. We can’t do that properly if you kick us to the curb, beat us, criticize us, and then demand our work for free.

That’s all.

KV

]]>https://kristenstagram.com/2018/02/07/no-your-news-shouldnt-be-free/feed/2Version 2kristenstagramWords I Need to Hear.https://kristenstagram.com/2018/01/30/words-i-need-to-hear/
https://kristenstagram.com/2018/01/30/words-i-need-to-hear/#commentsWed, 31 Jan 2018 02:02:18 +0000http://kristenstagram.com/?p=1327I feel rather uninspired. And as a writer, it’s easy for me to get in these ruts. However, when I do I often just stop everything creative. I completely shut down. So here’s a little note to myself.

Don’t do that. It’s not healthy. Write even when you don’t feel like writing.

Write when you’re sad. Write when you’re happy. Write when you’re upset and stressed and lazy and every emotion in between.

Don’t let your emotions control you. Writing when you don’t feel like it is what makes you great (I’ve received this advice time and time again from great writers I know and admire).

Oh! And before I forget…

I also have one quick question: what would you be interested in reading? If you were absolutely stuck reading my blog for a solid hour, what are three subjects/articles/thoughts you would want to read about?

Leave your answers in the comments below! I can’t wait to hear from you.

KV

(Featured Image taken by me in Bayeux, France)

]]>https://kristenstagram.com/2018/01/30/words-i-need-to-hear/feed/1bayeuxbwkristenstagram5 Phrases I Refuse to Say in 2018https://kristenstagram.com/2018/01/13/5-phrases-i-refuse-to-say-in-2018/
https://kristenstagram.com/2018/01/13/5-phrases-i-refuse-to-say-in-2018/#commentsSat, 13 Jan 2018 05:31:51 +0000http://kristenstagram.com/?p=1315Something I’ve recently noticed is the way in which I undermine myself with my choice of words (or diction, for all you English majors out there). It’s always subtle; I never intend to degrade myself or invalidate my thoughts and feelings. I just do.

I’m not quite sure whether the problem is self-construed, a result of social constructs, or just a giant conglomeration with multiple facets. As far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t necessarily matter what causes it. What matters is what I’m going to do about it. So, I’m writing it down. I refuse to let these five phrases control me in 2018.

1. “… but I don’t know.”

After spending a solid five minutes explaining my perspective on a piece of art, I ended my mini-monologue with this. The problem? I completely nullified everything I had previously said, even though I knew what I was talking about. Why do we do this to ourselves?

I often say this out of the belief that because I don’t know as much as some people, I don’t know enough to speak up. Thus I instantly add this phrase as a way to safeguard myself into not appearing dumb (because Heaven-forbid we appear human, not knowing everything).

2. “Does that make sense?”

I’ve been in far too many situations where I am required to “feel out” the other person and make myself exponentially clear, often confusing the point even more. What ends up happening is I make myself look like a fool and usually make them appear unintelligent as well.

If someone doesn’t understand what you are attempting to communicate, it is their responsibility to say so. They need to ask you to specify what you’re saying/thinking/feeling/etc.

3. “If not, it’s totally fine.”

This is probably more of a personal thing. I typically say this after making a suggestion or proposing a plan because, honestly, I’m just scared of their response. I’m scared they’ll say no. I’m scared they’ll think it was a horrible idea and proceed to tell me so. Are these fears rational? Probably not. Which is why I’m going to toss this expression out the window in 2018.

4. “Sorry.”

Okay, let’s get this straight: I am not refusing to apologize to people. What I am refusing? Saying sorry for things that are 1) completely out of my control or 2) not my fault. I have had people bump into me only for me to say sorry. I have been interrupted by people while I was speaking only for me to apologize for it.

We do not have to apologize for thinking. We do not have to apologize when someone else hurts us. We do not have to apologize for being alive.

Of course I will apologize when I have done something wrong that needs to be made right. However, I refuse to apologize to you simply because you choose to be an indecent human being.

5. “I just…”

I’ve noticed a surprising number of women say this to start their sentences.

I just feel like it’s easier to do it this way!

I just wanted to see if you had time to help me with some homework…

I just wanted to check on that report you were working on to see if it was done yet.

Adding this simple word completely changes the dynamic of the entire sentence. The request becomes softer, yes, but it is almost defensive. We need not defend our words. Simply ask if the report is done. If it needs to be done, say so. Ask someone to help you with your homework. Don’t be afraid to be direct with people. This advice is more for myself than anyone else. But it still rings true.

Many of my New Year’s Resolutions–which I so immensely love–are focused around the ideas of self-reflection, self-awareness, and fully processing my thoughts and emotions. Let this be the first of many strides toward a “better me.”

After watching a super stellar, informative video about 80s music (my favorite genre ever), I came across an artist named Bleachers. With just a sample of his music in the video, I decided to look it up on Spotify, half-expecting a sad excuse for an indie artist. Instead I listened to his entire album twice in one night and bought the CD the very next day.

I have been absolutely gushing about this album for the past two weeks. With it’s totally 80s synth vibes, the album is artistically complex and catchy. Without further ado, here is my brief analysis and review of Gone Now.

This is Jack Antonoff’s (aka Bleachers) sophomore album. It was released on June 2, 2017. There are 12 tracks. The greyscale album cover gives an ambiguous vintage feel to the album (as does the royal outfit he’s sporting).

The album itself is an absolute whirlwind of emotions. The opening track is a mix of strange voices that reappear throughout the album. In many songs the essential 80s drum beat is very noticeable (particularly in “Don’t Take the Money”). The mellow ballads, such as “Nothing Is U”, are very telling of the deep emotional strain Jack was experiencing while writing the album. “Everybody Lost Somebody” is a surprisingly sad song, despite the upbeat pop sound. He speaks of loss (specifically the loss of his sister at the age of 18) and how it is necessary to keep moving on in life. “All My Heroes” shows how Jack can take a cynical point of view and put a new spin on it. Each track is a very intricately composed song that carries the weight of a new discovery in his life.

I think much of the reason this album resonates so strongly with me is simply because it completely, whole-heartedly channels 80s music. I absolutely adore the synth beats, the sprinkling of electronic trumpets, and the intense drum reverb that is repeated throughout the album.

The themes also make it very compelling, especially with the repetition of lyrics. He continuously speaks of heartbreak, loss, anxiety, excitement, change, and depression. His tendencies toward extreme emotions are prevalent in his songs, and I love that he channels them in bizarre lyrics and funky beats.

Fave song: Don’t Take the Money or Goodmorning or Let’s Get Married (there’s just so many great ones I can’t really pick!)

Least fave song: Foreign Girls

Overall, I give this album a 8.1/10 for aesthetics, flow, and content. While the lyrics can be somewhat confusing and peculiar, the messages he conveys are strong. I applaud his ability to bring back the 80s with a modern, indie pop vibe. I think it will be interesting to see where his next album leads him.

Bleachers, you’ve earned yourself a new fan.

KV

]]>https://kristenstagram.com/2017/09/12/music-moment-bleachers/feed/0bleachers-everybody-lost-somebody-stream-1494596883kristenstagrambleachers-everybody-lost-somebody-stream-1494596883Playlist du Jour.https://kristenstagram.com/2017/08/21/playlist-du-jour/
https://kristenstagram.com/2017/08/21/playlist-du-jour/#respondMon, 21 Aug 2017 10:30:51 +0000http://kristenstagram.com/?p=1218So, as we are all aware, today is August 21. The day of the solar eclipse.

Predicted to be the busiest travel day in the history of the US, it is kind of a big deal. And of course, social media has blown up the event x1000. However, it should be celebrated! It is quite the exciting thing to see (but don’t look directly at it please).

For most of us, this is a one time event. And so, being the music fanatic that I am, I thought to myself, why not make a playlist? We have Halloween playlists, Christmas playlists, etc. Why not an eclipse playlist?